TEXT: Daniel 9:19 (Read verses 1-19)
READING: Ephesians 2:1-22
SUBJ: Daniel’s prayer and the place of the attributes of Righteousness with God and of “confusion of face” with us – personally and nationally.
AIM: That we might be aware of the constant need of the mercy and forgiveness which He alone can provide and that we might fervently pray for our nation.
INTR: The recorded life of Daniel is one of exemplary faithfulness and devotion to his Lord and yet identifies with the sins of his people in the way of confession and penitence.
1. Daniel is the subject of Bible storybooks, and his reputation is deserving of notice. We are reminded of his captivity, his refusal to eat the king’s meat, visions interpreted, promotions given, the handwriting on the wall, the lion’s den.
2. The typical reaction under such circumstances could be to stand aloof. It was the fact that he identified as one of a member of the body, the nation of Israel, if you will.
3. The message here is of the promise of the deliverance to Israel. An application may be made for us individually, as a community, and as a nation of rebels against God.
4. The basis for this prayer was the promise given to Jeremiah – Pray for what is promised
THESIS: Wherever we find effectual prayer two things will be evident. The person or persons coming will acknowledge that sin and all that opposes belongs to them. And they will acknowledge that God is Holy, that He is exalted, and that “mercies and forgiveness belong to Him. And so, Daniel desperately cries with these words:
I. “O Lord hear…” – his only resource.
1. First recognizing that exalted position as the “great and dreadful God…” – V. 4
2. And a plea to be heard – The assurance that His ear is open to the contrite
3. Then to hear the confession that forgiveness and restoration may be obtained.
1) We have sinned (v. 5)
2) We have not obeyed (v. 6)
4. Righteousness belongs to thee (v. 7)
5. We own confusion of face as those faced with and owning their guilt: Ezekiel 36:31 Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations. AND Isaiah 45:16 They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols.
6. We make application to ourselves as well as to all with whom we have to do.
II. “…O Lord forgive…” –
1. Mercy and forgiveness belong to the Lord – vv. 9-10.
2. Mercy is the nature of God and He delights in it -- Psalms 86:5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. AND Micah 7:18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.
3. Again, we note the appeal to what is known to be the divine inclination. There is no presumption to be understood here. He is sovereign in the dispensation of mercy and forgives whom He wills: Psalms 130:4 But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.
4. The gospel message is that He took ownership of that which causes the need of mercy in us and that He made Him sin who knew no sin.
1) Christ was sent to address that which is between God and us.
2) His first manifestation of mercy is in making us aware of our need of it
5. His mercy is manifested in repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
III. “…O Lord hearken and do…”
1. We are reminded here that Daniel has read the prophecy of Jeremiah and is praying for the very thing promised.
2. In v. 15, he points to the fact that the Lord delivered this people from out of Egypt – He is the redeemer God, and the Gospel is a message of redemption.
3. Daniel pleads for a cessation His anger toward them with a motive that honors God – They had become a reproach to them.
4. We are reminded that salvation is of the Lord in every aspect of our being and existence and that we are sustained because of His mercy and grace applied!
IV. “…defer not for thine own sake…”
1. In all that Daniel prayed for the honor of the Lord is most prominent.
2. That which symbolized the presence of the Lord was desolate (v. 17)
3. In verse 18, he acknowledged that such urgency was not being pressed because of any righteousness in us but because of the Lord’s mercies.
4. Daniel longed for the restoration of the Holy City even though he would probably never see it. It was a desired.
1) His love for the Lord was evident – it is for thy sake.
2) Thy city and Thy people are called by Thy name.
3) Consider: A Song and Psalm for the sons of Korah. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. God is known in her palaces for a refuge. (Psalms 48:1-3).
5. By whose name are we called?
